Machine for printing butter, &amp;c.



No. 656,78I. Patented Aug; 28', I900.

A. C. DODGE. MACHINE FOB PRINTING BUTTER, 8w.

(Application filed Mar. 14, 1898.,

(No Model.)

'bvxeseed, be

ms NORRIS Pumas cu, wow-Luna. WASHINGTON, n c.

an ra: tans ALFRED C. DODGE,OF BINGI-IAMTON, NEW YORK.

MACHINE FOR PRINTING BUTTER, 840.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 656,781, dated August 28 1900. Application filed March 14, 1898. Serial No. 673,884. (No modeli) To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED O. DODGE, a

' citizen of the United States, residing at Binghamton, in the county of Broome and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Butter-Machines for Pressing,Weighing, and Printing Butter; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof.

My invention relates to improvements in butter-machines for pressing, weighing, and printing butter; and the object of my improvements is to provide a machine to turn out a tub of butter into printed packages of any desired size and weight.

I attain this object by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the same on the line X Y. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the die-plate. Fig. at is a plan view of the top lid.

My butter presser, weigher, and printer is made of any suitable material, but preferably of iron or other metal faced with porcelain or other non-corrosive substance where it comes in contact with the butter. The printingfaces, however, are made of wood.

My device is constructed as follows: Upon the frame J is secured in any suitable manner the receptacle or press A, rectangular in shape, provided with the double sides P and Q, producing the air-spaces R, which receptacle is of a size to receive a tub of butter. The plunger N entering the receptacle A from below and fitting it snugly is attached to the top of the vertical screw 1, which is engaged by and operates with a concave Wheel H, fitted in the top of the frame. The plunger N is operated by means of thehorizontal handwheel II, whose center engages the screw I of the plunger, by which it is attached by its upperend. The hand-wheel I-Iis held in place in its socket J, so that when it is turned the plunger-screw I is forced upward.

The top of the butter press is fitted with a removable hinge-plate D the size of the top of the press and which is divided into the open spaces E, with cutting edges at equal distance. Above this cutting or die plate D is fitted by the same means a solid lid or cover B, provided upon its inner side with the printing-plates b, which fit into the open spaces E of the die-plate D. The recesses O in the surface of the plunger N, engaging the cutting edges of the die-plate D when brought into contact with it enables the plunger to come into close contact with the printing-face of the lid B. The die-plate D by the hinge d is hinged to the outer side of the press, so as to work free of the press and fit closely when in place, and the top lid B is hinged in a similar manner tothe die-plate D by the hinges O. The function of the cover B is to prevent, when closed, the butter from pushing out when under pgessure. The function of the die is to out the butter into equal packages during pressure. The base L is of Wood covered with zinc and is concave, having the vent M at its lowest and central point, into which the end of the screw I may enter. It is also used to carry off the Water with which the press may be washed.

In operation the plunger N is thrown up to the top of the press A by turning the wheel H. The tub of butter is emptied upon it and lowered into the press. The die-plate D is closed down and locked, and the top lid is locked down upon it. The wheel H is now turned and the butter forced upward until it fills all the inside space of the press. The top lid 13 is then lifted and the wheel is again turned, forcing the butter up through the space into the die-plate. The top lid is again clamped down and the same process repeated until all of the butter has been made into pound prints or packages of other sizes and weights, as may be desired.

The space R around the press is designed to be filled with ice and salt to prevent the butter from getting too soft, and the cap Sis a cover for this space.

Any hinge strong enough to withstand the heavy pressure and that will admit of the dieplate I) and top lid B fitting tightly to the top of the press will be suitable. Any suitable lock or catch may be used, but preferably the one used by me, consisting of the two paral lel lips or flanges c on the plate D and E in the lid and the pivoted bolt and nut F. In I form designs attached thereto, cutting-dies locking the die-plate and lid the pivoted bolt F is swung up between the flanges c or E and its nut screwed down tightly.

What I claim as my invention, and desire Letters Patent for, is-

In a butter-machine for pressing, Weighing, and printing butter, a rectangular or other suitable-shaped receptacle for eontainin g butter, provided with refrigerating air-chambers, retaining doors or lids, for holding the butter under pressureat the top, printing-plates to engaging said plates to separate the butter into certain shapes, sizes, and weights, a pressure-screw and wheel and a vertical plunger operated thereby, and engaging said dies, and a frame with base to sustain and hold said press and its operating parts; as described and specified.

. ALFRED O. DODGE. \Vitnesses:

I. P. BLACKBURN, J. E. BOOKSTAVER. 

